New Name and Mission

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Our mission is to promote the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders through education, practice, and research.

Simply stated, anxiety and depression go together for millions of people. ADAA’s new name clearly reflects the nature of our patients’ experiences, which frequently includes both anxiety and depressive symptoms. It reflects the realities of clinical practice and research. It acknowledges the prevalence, impact, and importance of anxiety disorders and depression and their comorbidity.

Our mission focuses on improving quality of life for children and adults affected with these disorders. ADAA educates patients and their families about the disorders and helps them find treatment, resources, and support. ADAA strives to improve patient care by promoting implementation of empirically supported treatments and best practices across disciplines through continuing education and trainings and accelerating dissemination of research into practice. ADAA promotes scientific innovation and engages a diverse network of basic and clinical anxiety and depression researchers. These commitments drive ADAA’s promise to find new treatments and one day prevent and cure these disorders.

ADAA is about people. Our passion is helping people understand the disorders, find treatment, and recover. We educate people about all scientifically supported treatments so they can make informed decisions to best meet their individual needs. We support professionals who provide care and those who conduct research. We invest in the future by encouraging students and trainees.

ADAA is unique. Our commitment to diversity and inclusivity brings together clinicians and researchers with diverse backgrounds in medicine, psychology, social work, counseling, neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, and other disciplines to advance science and treatment. We engage those who suffer from these disorders to work together toward our goals.

ADAA is evolving. We started more than three decades ago as The Phobia Society of America. We have incorporated scientific knowledge and understanding. We have expanded to include anxiety, stress, and related disorders. We have adapted to challenges in economics, business, and leadership.

What does the name change mean for the organization? This change explicitly broadens our focus. ADAA will continue to

focus on improving the lives of affected individuals through education, practice and research.

share core values on scientific and clinical integrity, integration of multiple disciplines to advance practice and science, and translation of new research to facilitate faster adoption.